Fungicidal composition with synergistic activity

ABSTRACT

There is described a fungicidal composition which comprises a synergistic amount of   a) propyl 3-(dimethylamino)propylcarbamate or an acid addition salt thereof, and b) a compound selected from the group consisting of zinc propylenebis(dithiocarbamate) polymer (propineb), zinc ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) polymer (zineb), manganese ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) polymer (maneb), zinc ammoniate ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate)-poly(ethylenethiuramdisulphide) (metiram), tetrachloroisophthalonitrile (chlorothalonil) and copper(I)oxide, as well as carriers and/or other additives, the ratio of component A to component B being preferably from about 1:0.1-3.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/287,902, filed Dec. 2, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,261.

This invention relates to a fungicidal composition with synergistic activity.

The composition contains, as essential ingredients, two components that mutually affect each other when used together and display a biological activity that is greater than the sum of the activities when used alone, an effect which is designated as synergism. This synergism leads to an increased protective activity when treating plants against a large number of fungi.

Thus these fungicidal compositions can be used in plant protection for combating Deuteromycetes, Zygomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Plasmodiophoraceae, Ascomycetes, Domycetes and Chytridiomycetes.

Compositions with fungicidal activity are already known and are the subject of patents such as for example DE OS 36 05 551. Mixtures of fungicides that show a synergistic activity are known (EP 106558 and 40007). However, there is still a considerable need and in even greater amounts for further compositions in this area with increased activity in order especially to meet the increased demands for protection of the environment and to overcome resistance.

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a fungicidal composition with synergistic activity. This object is provided according to the invention, by a composition that is characterised by a content of

(a) propyl 3-(dimethylamino)propylcarbamate or an acid addition salt thereof, and

(b) a compound selected from the group consisting of zinc propylenebis(dithiocarbamate) polymer (propineb), zinc ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) polymer (zineb), manganese ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) polymer (maneb), zinc ammoniate ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate)poly(ethylenethiuramdisulphide) (metiram), tetrachloroisophthalonitrile (chlorothalonil) and copper(I)oxide, as well as carriers an other additives,

the ratio of component A to component B being preferably from about 1:0.1-3.

Component A can be used in the form of an acid addition salt as well as its free base. The salts can be derived from inorganic or organic acids, such as mineral acids, mono or polycarboxylic acids or sulphonic acids, for example: hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, formic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, cyanoacetic acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, furan-2-carboxylic acid, p-toluenesulphonic acid, methanesulphonic acid, thioglycolic acid and citric acid.

The compositions of the invention show a surprising fungicidal activity that exceeds the sum of the activities of the individual components when used alone. This synergistic activity could not be envisaged from the present state of knowledge.

The synergistic activity of the compositon of the invention is significantly displayed in a mixture ratio of 1 part by weight of component A to 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of component B, although these limits can be exceeded by greater or smaller amounts by weight. The composition of the invention shows increased activity in comparison to the additive activity of the individual components if one part by weight of propamocarb (component A) is used in the mixture with:

0.5-1.5 parts by weight propineb

1.0-3.0 parts by weight zineb

0.5-1.5 parts by weight maneb

0.5-2.0 parts by weight metiram

0.5-2.0 parts by weight chlorothanlonil

or 1.0-3.0 parts by weight copper(I)oxide as component B.

However, the weight ratio of component A and B depends on the sensitivity and resistance of the plants, the time of application, the climatic conditions and the soil conditions.

The composition of the invention shows a wide fungicidal activity against fungi of various systematic types, such as: Aphanomyces; Bremia; Peronospora; Phytophthora; e.g. Phytophthora infestans; Pseudoperonospora, e.g. Pseudoperonospora humuli; Pythium and Plasmopara, e.g. Plasmopara viticora.

In treating parts of the plant above the ground, protection is given against wind-borne diseases. In order to protect against seed-borne diseases the compounds of the invention can be used as a seed treatment. Besides, they also act systemically, that means they are taken up by the roots of the plant, for example after sowing, are transported into the parts of the plant above the earth and protect against these diseases.

Because of the broad spectrum of activity that has been found, the compositions are suitable not only for protection of crops, but also for protection of materials and for combating microbes which are pathogenic to humans and animals from which wide-ranging possibilities of use arise.

The rate of use lies as a rule from 500 to 9000 g of the mixture (components A and B)/ha, preferably 1700 to 3500 g mixture/ha.

The composition can be applied in conventional manner, for example with water as carrier in spray amounts of about 100 to 2000 liters per hectare. Application of the composition by so-called "low-volume" or "ultra-low volume" methods is also possible.

The composition of the invention can be used also in mixture with each other active ingredients, for example growth regulants, plant nutrients, soil-structure improvers, defoliants, plant-protection agents or pesticides, depending on the desired result.

An improvement in the intensity and speed of action can be obtained, for example, by addition of suitable adjuvants, such as organic solvents, wetting agents and oils. Such additives may allow a decrease in the dose.

The compositions of the invention can suitably be used as powders, dusts, granules, solutions, emulsions or suspensions, with the addition of liquid and/or solid carriers and/or diluents and, optionally, binding, wetting, emulsifying and/or dispersing adjuvants.

Suitable liquid carriers are, for example water, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene, cyclohexanone, isophorone, dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethylformamide and other mineral-oil fractions.

Suitable solid carriers include material earths, e.g. tonsil, silica gel, talcum, kaolin, attapulgite, limestone, silicic acid and plant products, e.g. flours.

As surface-active agents there can be used for example calcium lignosulphonate, polyoxyethylenealkylphenyl ether, naphthalenesulphonic acids and their salts, phenolsulphonic acids and their salts, formaldehyde condensates, fatty alcohol sulphates, as well as substituted benzenesulphonic acids and their salts.

The amount of the mixture (components A and B) in the composition of the invention in the various preparations can vary over a wide range. For example the composition can contain around 10 to 80 weight percent of the mixture, around 90 to 20 weight percent of liquid or solid carriers, as well as optionally up to 20 weight percent of surfactant.

Formulations can be prepared, for example, from the following ingredients.

    ______________________________________                                         (a)    90% mixture (components A + B)                                                  7% kaolin                                                                      3% surfactant based on the sodium salt of N-methyl-                           N-oleyltaurine and calcium lignosulphonate                              (b)    50% mixture (components A + B)                                                 35% colloidal silicic acid                                                     10% calcium lignosulphonate                                                     5% ammonium tetaethyleneglycolnonyl phenyl                                    monosulphate                                                            (c)    30% mixture (components A + B)                                                  2% colloidal silicic acid                                                     68% water                                                               (d)    20% mixture (components A + B)                                                 70% tonsil                                                                      8% cell pitch                                                                  2% wetting agent based on fatty acid condensation                             products                                                                (e)     5% mixture (components A + B)                                                 80% tonsilite                                                                  10% cell pitch                                                                  5% wetting agent based on fatty acid condensation                             products                                                                ______________________________________                                    

The preparation of the composition of the invention can be carried out by mixing the individual components in a suitable apparatus for this purpose.

The following examples illustrate the possibility of use of the compositions of the invention.

The examples contain data on components A and B, their rates of use, the percentage fungicidal activity achieved and the percentage inhibition obtained with the combination of A and B according to the method described by S R Colby, in which the existence of additive activity would be expected (S R Colby "Calculating Synergistic and Antagonistic Respones of Herbicide Combinations" Weeds 15/1 (1967) p 22-22).

The calculation was carried out according to the following equation: ##EQU1## in which X=the percentage of fungicidal activity with substance A at p kg active ingredient/ha

Y=the percentage of fungicidal activity with substance B at q kg active ingredient/ha

E=expected fungicidal activity by A+B at p+q kg/ha.

If the observed value is higher than the value E calculated according to Colby, the combination has a synergistic activity.

TEST EXAMPLE

Testing of the composition of the invention against Phytophthora infestans in field tests on potatoes ("Bintje") in test areas of ca. 20 m² (four replicates).

Preparations of active ingredients were formulated with water to the desired concentration using commercially available formulations of the ingredients.

The plants were sprayed at a spray interval of 7-12 days with the preparations of active ingredients. The evaluation was carried out 12 days after the last treatment (infestation of the untreated controls was 100%).

    ______________________________________                                         Rate of application                                                            (g a · i/ha)                                                                         % Activity                                                      propamocarb                            Trial                                   HCl       maneb    Observed  Calculated (E)                                                                           site                                    ______________________________________                                         1125        0      9.5                                                           0       1200     8.7                 I                                       1125      1200     32.5      17.4                                              ______________________________________                                    

In a similar manner the following results were obtained.

    ______________________________________                                         Rate of application                                                            (g a · i/ha)                                                                         % Activity                                                      ______________________________________                                         propamocarb                            Trial                                   HCl      propineb  Observed  Calculated (E)                                                                           site                                    ______________________________________                                         1125       0        9.5                                                          0      1050       1.0                I                                       1125     1050      22.5      10.4                                              ______________________________________                                         propamocarb                            Trial                                   HCl      metiram   Observed  Calculated (E)                                                                           site                                    ______________________________________                                         1125       0        9.5                                                          0      1200       1.2                I                                       1125     1200      28.7      10.6                                              ______________________________________                                         propamocarb                            Trial                                   base     zineb.    Observed  Calculated (E)                                                                           site                                    ______________________________________                                         1125       0       67.7                                                          0      2000      77.2                I                                       1125     2000      95.1      92.6                                              1125       0       51.3                                                          0      2000      54.6                II                                      1125     2000      87.4      77.9                                              ______________________________________                                         propamocarb                                                                             chloro-                       Trial                                   base     thalonil  Observed  Calculated (E)                                                                           site                                    ______________________________________                                         1125       0       67.7                                                          0      1300      82.3                I                                       1125     1300      95.6      94.3                                              1125       0       51.3                                                          0      1300      66.7                II                                      1125     1300      86.2      83.8                                              ______________________________________                                         propamocarb                                                                             copper(I)                     Trial                                   base     oxide     Observed  Calculated (E)                                                                           site                                    ______________________________________                                         1125       0       67.7                                                          0      2250      82.8                I                                       1125     2250      97.0      94.4                                              1125       0       51.3                                                          0      2250      64.4                II                                      1125     2250      91.3      82.7                                              ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A fungicidal composition comprising a synergistic effective amount of the mixture of(A) propyl 3-(dimethylamino)propylcarbamate or an acid addition salt thereof, and (B) tetrachloroisophthalonitrile (chlorothalonil) and a carrier, wherein the ratio of component A to component B is from about 1:0.1 to
 3. 2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of component A to component B is from about 1:0.5 to 2.0.
 3. A method of combating a fungus which comprises applying to the fungus or its locus a synergistic fungicidally effective amount of the composition of claim
 1. 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the ratio of component A to component B is from about 1:0.5 to 2.0. 